Haines Stars at Junior Track Championships

WAIS athlete Jade Haines capped off an outstanding National Junior Track Cycling Championship campaign in Melbourne, notching up two more medals on the final day, to take her tally to five gold.

Haines won the under 17 points race, individual pursuit and time trial before claiming the keirin and scratch race honours.

In the keirin, Haines mowed down Queensland’s Lara Tucker who attacked the six women group on the final lap. Rihana Pezaj (WA) slipped through for silver while Tucker settled for bronze.

In an almost identical result in the scratch race, the young Western Australian waited until the last minute to open up her sprint, avoiding a crash to catch a fading Tucker on the final straight.

With one and half laps remaining in the 20 lap race, a bold Tucker attacked the field to gain a sizeable lead before Haines charged home for gold. Sarah Gigante (VIC) clinched silver ahead of Tucker who finished third.

WAIS Head Cycling Coach Clay Worthington said, “It was a very good week for WA, with a number of breakout performances and a large group of athletes getting their first national medals.”

WAIS Senior Coach Andrew Jackson oversaw the team in Melbourne and was assisted by former WAIS athlete and world champion Sarah Kent.